Jazz Room Stick

Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly behind the Studio Alta building. It was first opened in 1970 ('When Shinjuku was burning!') by the wonderfully jovial Wariya-san. The place seats about 25, either at the bar or at the low tables towards the back wall.

The room is dominated by the print on the back wall, a photo of fusion-era funky Miles Davis and Jack DeJohnette. On the other side are numerous under-water photos; Wariya-san is a licensed scuba-diving instructor and even at age 74 still dives now and then. The right wall has postcards featuring movie-posters from all of Kurosawa Akira's career. Quite a random and cool mix of decor, surrounding some vintage 1970s furniture.

Wariya-san has a good-sized collection of vinyl behind the bar, though I have noticed that when it gets busy he puts on a mix-cd of jazz "classics". I'd prefer he hit the vinyl of course but the atmosphere makes up for it as the Stick is a lively place, perfect for those times you want to drink and be merry in a jazz joint..and probably get a bit loaded when Wariya-san brings out some of his home-made umeshu (plum wine) on the house or starts pouring from his collection of Polish gin. Stick is old school; get down there for a drink while you still can. No website, twitter or Facebook. 'I'm an analog man, no internet!' - Wariya-san

Go in to the small block of streets calles "Moa" behind Studio Alta, Shinjuku. (Studio Alta is the building with the huge video screen that you see when you come out of the My City JR Shinjuku exit). Jazz Room Stick is on a little alleyway off of Moa Chuo-Dori (Mos Central Street) DIRECTLY behind the Studio Alta building. Keep a look out for the black and yellow sign.

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TOKYO JAZZ SITE

A guide to Jazz bars, clubs, cafes and shops in the Tokyo and Yokohama city areas. Also home to the OK Jazz Podcast, playing World Music, Jazz, Soul, Funk, Blues and more, also info about live music events, gigs and festivals around town.